Here is an update about some of the work we have undertaken recently:
Tree maintenance: Recently, tree maintenance work has been completed at Windsor Gardens and Granny Park. There are further works to be done in Dan y Bryn Woods and Radyr Woods – these will be carried out from Autumn onwards. Litter in Windsor Gardens: There has been an increase in litter in Windsor Garden and several residents have kindly assisted in collecting it over the past weeks. We will be monitoring the situation and will aim to ensure that discarded litter is collected as quickly as possible. Pentwyn Park: There has been an overgrowth of vegetation over a resident’s garden in Pentwyn Park. This has now been removed. The specification for the new retaining wall in the Park has been received and the necessary steps are underway to lead to the construction of the said wall. Road safety - Heol Isaf: The Community Council has written to Cardiff City Council regarding the overgrowth of vegetation on the East to West side of Heol Isaf commencing at the motorway bridge all along to the Scout Hut. This vegetation was obliterating the speed signs but remedial work has now been completed so that both these signs are visible to motorists. Road safety – Windsor Road: The Community Council recently received a letter from the Cardiff City Planning Department in response to a letter of complaint from the Community Council in regard to the dangerous bend at the top of Windsor Road. We are delighted to report that the Planning Department has received Welsh Government funding to enable certain areas in Cardiff to be made safer for residents. Consultations in regard to the development of this particular area will shortly commence and will involve residents, the Community Council and the Radyr Ward member.
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You can find it here. What new money? Caro Wild, Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for strategic planning and transport has written to every community council in Cardiff, seeking ideas for a new initiative, to be called the Local Infrastructure Idea Lists. Specifically, he has asked for ideas in relation to public open spaces, community facilities and local highway improvements. Whilst looking primarily at ideas that may be funded through Section 106 developer contributions, the lists will also help to inform other work that is undertaken by Cardiff Council’s service areas, using the Council's normal funding channels. What will this mean for us? This is an opportunity for people across Radyr and Morganstown to submit their ideas. What would you like to see developed in your area? Would you like to see any improvements to our public spaces Better, or more, playgrounds? An outdoor gym? Improved landscaping? More places to sit and enjoy being outdoors? Somewhere for our young people to meet up? Do you want to see any improvements to Station Road? How about community facilities? Improvements to our halls? How about a new community hall on the Mound Field, with facilities for Radyr Rangers? Better sports facilities? A MUGA*? Or how about road safety and ease of movement across our community? Safer cycling? More zebra crossings? The invitation is there, from Caro Wild - so we would like to respond with a set of ideas that could really make a difference to our community. What can I do? You can send us your ideas by completing our survey, here. What will happen next? We need to send our ideas to Cardiff Council as soon as we can, in September. After that time, we can still send more ideas, but it's important for us to get our ideas onto Cardiff's initial list. An Important caveat: It's important to understand, however, that there is no guaranteed pot of money to fund everything or anything. But if we don't present our ideas, we won't be able to complain if other areas see their projects developed. So, Cardiff will assess all of the ideas it receives and prepare the Local Infrastructure Idea Lists. They will use this to help priorities how Section 106 money should be used (as well as helping to priorities the work they fund themselves). What is Section 106 money? New developments can have an impact on the local community. For example, growth in population arising from a new residential development might lead to greater pressure on local schools, community facilities, open spaces, highways or transportation. Planning obligations, known as Section 106 Contributions, can be used to require developers to provide new facilities, or contribute financially towards developments that help to mitigate the impact of their development. To help guide the S106 process, the Local Infrastructure Idea Lists is a new scheme which will be developed to provide Cardiff Council with a way to identify local infrastructure ideas for different wards, which can be taken into consideration when S106 contributions are being sought. Section 106 contributions can be sought for a range of infrastructure developments, such as affordable housing, transport, highway works, schools, open spaces, community facilities, public realm improvements, waste management facilities and flood risk management. However, as mentioned above, Caro Wild has asked us for ideas linked to public open spaces, community facilities and local highway improvements only (but we are checking why he has limited his request to those areas). The boring bit There are three legal tests governing the use of Section 106. It can constitute a reason for granting planning permission for the development only if the obligation is:
Think big! But don't these legal tests put you off! Send us your ideas. However wild! However ambitious! However big! However small! We want to know what you would like to have! Complete the survey and let us know what you'd like to see. * A Multi Use Games Arena as described here. Following the commitment shown locally to help fund the new playground at Clos Parc Radur (including money from the community council, from local residents and a crowd-funding campaign), the Chair of the community council has written to the Chair of Cardiff Council asking that he helps ensure that money is found to pay for the essential drainage works required before any new equipment an be installed.
You can read the letter in Welsh, here. And in English, here. We will let you know when we hear back from Huw Thomas. Here's another vibrant and colourful piece of art installed by the pupils of Radyr Comprehensive School at the skatepark on the Mound Field. This is certainly brightening up our community! This piece - and the others we showed you recently - were done as part of a Creative Collaboration project with the artist known as Unity (you can see more of her work on her millimagic website). The project was funded with an Arts Council Wales grant. Unity has also coordinated artwork at Tongwynlais Primary School - and a new piece will be painted soon, near Radyr station. Do you know of any more dark corners that could benefit from some community art treatment? Let us know in the comments box, below! The community council has added its voice to those opposing a planning application to demolish a building and build five detached and two detached houses at Springfield Gardens, in Morganstown. You can see our letter to Cardiff Council's planning department here. If you've driven (slowly) along Heol Isaf, or walked down the lane between Woodfield Avenue and Taff Terrace - then you will know that some talented pupils from Radyr Comprehensive School have been busy decorating some walls with some colourful artwork. On Heol Isaf (at no 76, to be precise) a field of poppies has appeared - and on the lane, there is now a trompe l'oeil, tempting you on a trip into Wonderland. These pieces of community art certainly brighten up the neighbourhood - and are testament to the talent of the young artists who painted them (with 'Sophie' and 'Amber' to thank for the Wonderland contribution). What do you think? Do you like them? Would you like to see more community art? If so, where? Let us know by commenting below. What is community art? Find out here. Many residents of Radyr and Morganstown will be all too familiar with the roadworks at the junction of Heol Isaf and Llantrisant Road. The traffic cones; the temporary lights; the random traffic queues; the occasional minor alteration to the route; the big yellow tractors; the bumpy roads... Will it ever end?! Sometimes, it can look as if the roadworks are almost done. We can see the shape of the new junction. Posts have been installed, to hold the new road signs. Kerbstones have been laid... Surely, all that remains is to install the proposed traffic lights, connect them to the electricity supply, lay some more tarmac - and we're done? However, there is much more to this than meets the eye. We spoke with Plasdwr about progress - and this is what we've learned. This is not a simple task. On the contrary, this is highly complex. Connecting Plasdŵr to life's vital services is going to take some time. And it will happen at several places along Llantrisant Road, between Radyr and the western boundary of Plasdŵr. To make matters even more complicated, Plasdŵr will involve several house-building companies - all working to their own timescales. And as each tranche of houses is developed, it will need its own supply of water, electricity, gas, communications - and a sewerage system. And, from time to time, an SUD will be required (a sustainable drainage system) which will involve roadside works - and associated pipes and services that may also need to cross Llantrisant Road. As you can see from the list of vital services, this work will involve many different companies (such as Welsh Water, BT and several other utility providers). All working to different timescales - and all needling the appropriate planning permissions and licenses from the appropriate authorities. So the bad news is that we face many years of roadworks along Llantrisant Road, with the Heol Isaf / Llantrisant Road junction being the first of many - to be followed closely by changes to the Clos Parc Radyr junction. Both of these junctions will end up controlled by traffic lights. Cardiff Council has assured us that the timing of the lights will be adjusted and fine-tuned to give Radyr and Clos Parc Radyr residents enough of a green-light period to move out onto Llantrisant Road. We will monitor this in due course. However, when the traffic lights are installed at the end of Heol Isaf, they won't be switched on until Cardiff Council agrees it is the right time to do so. They may, for instance, want the Clos Parc Radur traffic lights in place as well, before both sets of lights are turned on (to better control traffic flow). As we wait for them to be switched on, we may see a temporary roundabout installed at the Heol Isaf junction. And the timing of all this? It's difficult to predict, apparently - given the number of services to be installed at several locations - and the number of companies involved. We can, however, except to have to wait until mid 2020 before the majority of the Heol Isaf junction is completed. That's another 12 months of roadworks! Not the best news, regrettably. And with the Clos Parc Radur junction works yet to begin, we can expect to be navigating these roadworks for a long time to come. And what will this lead to? Plasdŵr will bring more traffic, that's for sure. But we are promised:
Only time will tell, however, to what extent these developments will help ease traffic in and around Radyr and Morganstown. There will be some positive developments. Including four new schools. And Plasdŵr’s propsed 'district centre' will offer employment opportunities - as well as providing us with a new retail centre, with a range of large and smaller stores to serve both Plasdŵr and its neighbouring communities. So we won't have to travel as far to visit a large supermarket, to stock up on life's essentials. The district centre will be focused around a central square with community, health and leisure facilities - with the potential for new cafés, restaurants and pubs. Although work on the deisgn concept has begun (see here), work on the final design for the centre has yet to be started - with construction a number of year’s away. At the end of the day, Plasdŵr will be a 15 to 20 year development. Not all of it will be built on our doorstep - so we won't see all of the mud and tractors - but life in our corner of the capital city will change for ever. In the meantime, if you have a problem (with mud, noise, mess, stones in the road, faulty temporary traffic lights etc) or any other concerns (such as what will happen to the remaining hedgerows and trees) you can contact Katie Powis, Community Liaison Manager, for Plasdŵr on 07741 194199 or email katie.powis@plasdwr.co.uk. And, of course, you can attend the drop-in sessions that Plasdŵr arranges in Radyr, from time to time. In the meantime, if you have any comments about this article - or about Plasdŵr, you can post them below. You may recall that we posted here about Cardiff Council's proposals to make a Public Spaces Protection Order under s.59 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in respect of the dog control. This would allow Enforcement Officers to serve Fixed Penalty Notices for specified antisocial behaviour relating to dogs. Well, there has been a revision to include Schools playing fields. The revised proposed order is shown, below: Dear Sir/Madam
Re: THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF CARDIFF PROPOSED DRAFT PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER (DOG CONTROL) ORDER 2019 The Council propose to make a Public Spaces Protection Order under s.59 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in respect of the above. This would allow Enforcement Officers to serve Fixed Penalty Notices for specified antisocial behaviour relating to dog control. Please find enclosed the Draft Order and Plan. You can see a copy of the draft Order on the Council’s website at: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Leisure-parks-and-culture/Public-Spaces-Protection-Orders/Pages/default.aspx Written representations or objections on the draft text to the proposed Order can be made by post to Jonathan Childs, Commercial Services , County Council of the City and County of Cardiff, County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff CF10 4UW or by email to jonathan.childs@cardiff.gov.uk not later than 30th June 2019. If you have any queries in respect of the above please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours faithfully Matt Wakelam Assistant Director – Street Scene Frequent users of the Drovers' Way playground will see that the facility is now locked - with the sign shown above making it clear that the playground is closed for maintenance.
What we know at present is that:
In the meantime, local resident Jamie Grundy has launched a crowdfunding campaign to 'fill the final quarter' of the circle. You can read about his campaign here. Over £600 has been raised already - a great example of positive community action. We will update you after the 12 June meeting. Local resident Jamie Grundy has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help refurbish the Drovers' Way playground in Clos Parc Radur. Below, he talks about the value of this important site - and his aim to help fill it with new equipment: "There are many residents of Clos Parc Radyr and further afield who have used the popular children’s playground at Drovers Way. You can find me there most days with my daughter and my dog, trying to tire them out! Having witnessed the playground's slow and sad decline over the years I’m doing something about it. I’ve set up a crowd-funding campaign to raise some money to help regenerate it. The playground has been half-empty of equipment for years - and I want to get it filled with new and exciting equipment. We also need to stop mud and water flooding onto the site. Radyr & Morganstown Community Council and Radyr Park Management Committee have both pledged £5,000 towards the project - with the remaining costs being met by Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government. Redrow Homes are leading on the investigation of the flooding and have promised to fix this problem. So my crowd-funding campaign is to cover part of the cost only. I’m trying to raise £2500 to buy equipment to 'fill the final quarter' of the playground. To find out more, or to donate - please go to any of the following websites: Please pledge what you can, even if it’s only a couple of pounds, because every donation will help a new generation of Radyr children to play in a fun and safe environment for years to come. The campaign will be running until Sunday 14 July." We think Jamie's crowdfunding campaign is an excellent idea - so please get behind him and donate whatever you can, to help restore this valuable playground. |
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